Gandhiji and RSS: The Cultural Grounding of Social Representations

Exploring the cordial relationship and mutual respect between Gandhiji and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), this article critically examines the political rhetoric against the RSS and its implications. As a nationalist cultural organisation, the RSS had been well aligned with most of the social and cultural programmes initiated by Gandhiji. When critics of the RSS like Jawaharlal Nehru were keen on crushing the RSS, the truth-seeking political philosopher Gandhiji applauded its discipline, annihilation of untouchability and the rigorous simplicity. This article demonstrates how the serious charges against the RSS that were brought to the notice of Gandhiji by a section of Congress leaders further cemented the cultural grounding of social representations between the two, instead of making Gandhiji be the stranger of the RSS.